I am sure of this, that by going much alone a man will get more of a noble courage in thought and word than from all the wisdom that is in books. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

English 20 Final Exam 08

We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.
Plato
(427 BC-347 BC)

We must constantly make decisions in daily life. Some decisions are simple choices (e.g., Coke or Pepsi) while others affect people’s entire lives. Furthermore, every decision has consequences and often there is not a clear alternative. Decisions involve weighing alternatives and considering the consequences. Does conforming to the beliefs and actions of the majority make a person a “good citizen”?

When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice. -William James

Write an essay based on literature you have studied in which the author examines conformity. What idea(s) does the writer develop regarding a conformity?